In-office LASIK flap repositioning practical for treating striae or slippage

Repositioning the LASIK flap in the office rather than the operating room is safe, effective and efficient in the treatment of striae or flap slippage, according to a study.

George Waring III, MD, FACS, FRCOphth, and colleagues at Emory Vision in Atlanta described the indications and technique for repositioning the LASIK flap at the slit lamp, as well as their results with the technique. The indication for flap repositioning is most often flap striae, the authors said, but repositioning can also be done for a displaced flap and when small amounts of debridement occur.

The surgeons recommend against using a slit-lamp-based procedure for the purposes of taking cultures, irrigation of diffuse lamellar keratitis, suturing the flap or epithelial ingrowth.

To reposition the flap, the authors said, an edge of the flap is found with a cannula, and the flap is lifted by sweeping the cannula and infusing balanced salt solution under the flap to release the entire wound.

The office-based procedure “saved time, money and anxiety for the patient,” the authors conclude in the March/April issue of Journal of Refractive Surgery.